UNC Real Estate Development Challenge

February 15-16, 2018

Our Challenge

The UNC Real Estate Development Challenge is a case competition hosted by the Leonard W Wood Center for Real Estate Studies at Kenan-Flagler Business School. An invitation-only event, the Challenge convenes 16 teams from the US and Europe’s top MBA programs to compete.

UNC Challenge ROI

$20,000 in cash prizes for top finalist teams

Top industry judges

Amazing networking opportunity

Bragging rights and a resume highlight

Recognition from industry, alums, peers and potential employers

Earn Challenge swag

Visit Chapel Hill!

Drilling Down

The Case Challenge officially begins with the distribution of the challenge case at noon the Thursday before Challenge week. Until the Monday morning of Challenge week, teams work furiously to put together the best comprehensive solution to the development case.

By Thursday evening, teams gather in Chapel Hill for a welcome reception and dinner. The next day, the challenge competition begins in earnest. Using four presentation rooms simultaneously, teams present their case solutions in a 20-minute presentation, followed by 5 minutes of questions from judges who are experts in the real estate industry.

Only after lunch the teams learn which four teams will move to the finals in the afternoon. The "Final Four" present again in the afternoon to the entire judging pool and the remaining teams. Cash prizes are presented and teams celebrate a job well done at our social that Friday night in Chapel Hill.

2017 Challenge Trivia:

The 2017 Challenge Case was inspired by an alumnus of Kenan-Flagler Business School. This year’s case offered the teams an opportunity to propose a development plan for a Fort McPherson Local Redevelopment Authority (Fort Mac LRA) in Atlanta GA. Each team was asked to put forward a concept, phasing and financial plan for Fort Mac that actually worked for all the property stakeholders. Financials and risks were to be addressed in their presentations. Like most of our cases this one was not without its many moving parts and constraints.

The winning teams for the 2017 Challenge were: Columbia Business School won first place and Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth took second. The teams from McDonough School of Business at Georgetown and the University of Wisconsin at Madison tied for third.